Progress to prevent female genital mutilation needs to be ‘27 times faster’, says UN

The number of girls and women who have undergone female genital mutilation (FGM) has increased by 15% in the past eight years, according to new data.

Figures released by the UN children’s agency, Unicef, show that more than 230 million girls and women alive today have undergone FGM, compared with 200 million in 2016. The trend is towards girls being cut at a younger age, said Unicef executive director Catherine Russell.

“Female genital mutilation harms girls’ bodies, dims their futures, and endangers their lives,” she said. “We’re also seeing a worrying trend that more girls are subjected to the practice at younger ages, many before their fifth birthday. That further reduces the window to intervene. We need to strengthen the efforts of ending this harmful practice.”

Work to eliminate the practice by the UN’s target date of 2030 would need to be happening 27 times faster than it is now, Unicef said. FGM is not becoming more common globally, but more girls are being born in FGM-practising countries in comparison with the rest of the world.

  • Dr. Wesker
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    1110 months ago

    I do feel it’s inconsiderate to suggest there’s something “wrong” with their penises. It isn’t their fault what was done to them. However, I do agree there definitely is an element of denial.

    • @[email protected]
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      610 months ago

      I was struggling for the (wrong?) right word and couldn’t find one.

      “Involuntarily modified”?

      • @Zehzin
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        410 months ago

        I believe the correct word is mutilated.

        • @[email protected]
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          210 months ago

          It is. This time last week I was inundated with righteous outrage at using “mutilated”, I was hoping to stave off that this week.